Chapter 3 Flame Master Part 3

A chilling voice echoed through the endless darkness, sending a shiver through the air.

"Who I am does not matter. For centuries, I have hungered for the energy of Supreme warriors, and now... you five have come. You are the key to my escape from this cursed void!"

The weight of those words pressed upon them like an invisible force.

Alex remained calm, though his inner energy was already surging to its peak.

"We are the new Supreme warriors of Macedoria. We were merely passing through this path, heading toward a new world. If we have disturbed your rest, we apologize. But let us pass."

Morgan clenched his fists, anxiety creeping into his voice.

"Damn it! We're almost at the exit! What do we do now?"

Alex took a deep breath, his decision unwavering.

"You all go ahead! I'll hold it off! I have the Soul Stone-I will find you later!"

His voice was resolute, leaving no room for argument.

Elara and Mira understood immediately. They knew Alex well enough to realize that his words were final.

"Alex, we'll be waiting for you in the new world!" Elara called out, her voice laced with worry.

Without hesitation, she, Mira, Morgan, and Kain sped toward the tunnel's exit.

But then-

"You will not escape!"

The monstrous eyes blazed with fury as a devastating wave of energy surged toward them.

Alex's expression hardened.

"You'll have to go through me first!"

With a thunderous roar, he unleashed his full strength.

"Spring Palm Technique!"

A massive shockwave erupted from his palm, colliding head-on with the creature's attack. The tunnel trembled violently, yet Alex didn't stop there. Summoning his soul energy, he prepared for an even more devastating strike.

"Destructive Celestial Lotus!"

A swirling vortex of energy, composed of twenty-one radiant colors, formed in his hands.

"Go!"

With a mighty thrust, he launched the celestial energy straight at the glowing eyes.

Elara's voice rang through the tunnel as the others finally reached the exit.

"Alex! If you die, I won't live either!"

Alex exhaled sharply, watching his friends disappear into the light.

"Elara... Mira... wait for me. I'll come back."

Now, it was just him and the beast.

The impact of the Destructive Celestial Lotus sent a blinding shockwave through the abyss. The force was so immense that it fractured the unstable void, causing fragments of the empty dimension to crumble into light.

For the first time, the monstrous being howled in pain.

"Damn you, human! You will pay for this!"

Blood dripped from the enormous eyes, staining the air with an ominous glow. Its enraged screams made the abyss itself tremble.

But it had underestimated Alex.

It had focused only on preventing the others from escaping, never expecting Alex's attack to be powerful enough to wound it.

A deep growl echoed as the shadow finally took shape.

Alex's eyes widened.

Emerging from the darkness was a colossal golden dragon.

Its body stretched for hundreds of feet, shimmering with an ancient radiance. Its powerful tail coiled like a force of nature itself. Even from a distance, its presence radiated overwhelming strength, surpassing even Alex's own.

But what caught Alex's attention the most was the broken horn on its forehead.

Among dragons, horns symbolized identity and power. A broken horn meant disgrace, a loss of status. Perhaps this was why the creature had remained hidden in this void-to escape its shame.

"How... how could a mere human wound me?"** the golden dragon bellowed, its body trembling with fury.

Its anger boiled over into pure killing intent.

"Prepare to die, boy!"

With a deafening roar, the dragon lunged forward, massive claws aiming to crush Alex in an instant.

But Alex was already moving.

Activating his Three Thousand Lightning Steps, he vanished from the dragon's path, reappearing in an instant.

In his hands, a weapon gleamed with divine light-a radiant scythe, humming with boundless energy.

Alex's grip tightened.

This was no longer a battle to delay.

It was a fight to survive.